Defeated A Behemoth

As they continued walking in Stygian Forest, the twins found it awkward being in the two Familiar's presence. Zann was walking ahead of them, and Leonel was right behind them, the twins in between.

It had already been a silent 5-minute walk since Zann started leading the way, making the twins sigh as they found the atmosphere around them overbearing.

"Are we going to endure this every day?" Aranea thought, Elenea, shaking her head, hoping that it won't be the case.

"I hope not. It will be troublesome if this is going to be every day," Elenea mumbled, enough for Aranea to hear.

The twins just watched Zann leading them the way, and when they looked back, Leonel had his hands in his pockets as he looked left and right, cautious of their surroundings.

"Hey, Aranea."

"Y-Yes?"

When Zann suddenly called out her attention, the twins snapped out of their thoughts.

"What's up?" Aranea added, Zann, asking a question as they continued walking onward.

"What kind of beast are we looking for?" he asked, Aranea, hesitating to answer.

"Should I tell you? I mean, I know you are my Familiar, so you should know. But my sister is here," she spoke her concern, Zann, sighing before he replied to her.

"There is nothing to worry about when it comes to the ordeals. You can tell even though your sister is around."

Hearing this, the twins widened their eyes in surprise.

"What? If Araneaa would tell me, the punishment of cutting her tongue out--"

"It won't happen," Zann interrupted Elenea, "If she's still here, then that means her ordeal had something to do with us," he added, the twins still confused.

"What do you mean?"

This time, it was Leonel's turn to speak.

"It could only mean one thing," he started, the twins stopping in their tracks to listen to the Water Familiar. "If Elenea is still here with us, her ordeal involves protecting us. If she is with us, then a student can freely tell the ordeal as long as it involves them."

"Oh!"

Now the twins understood what Zann meant because of Leonel's explanation. However, Leonel felt pissed to have not found out about it earlier. Compared to Zann, Leonel was oblivious to the fact.

'Has he grown more intelligent and aware from the time he disappeared from our realm?'

Zann turned his back to look at all of them. He leaned on the nearby tree behind him, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"So... what beast are we tracking?"

Hearing the question again as Zann asked it for another time, Aranea looked at Leonel as if asking for permission. When he said nothing, Aranea looked at Zann once more, answering his question.

"We're looking for a Catoblepas."

When Elenea heard this, her eyes widened in surprise. It was as if her eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets!

"You're going to defeat a dinosaur-like monster!?"

Aranea nodded as she scratched the back of her head, understanding the shock and fear on her sister's face.

"How are you going to defeat such a big beast!?"

"That's not gonna be a problem," Zann said with confidence, cocking his head to the side as his sword appeared on his hand, looking mighty as ever. "We have one of its weaknesses. Once we assure an opening, we can take it down," he added, Leonel, scoffing when he heard what he said.

"Confident, are we?" he commented, raising a brow at him at the same time. "How can you be this cocky?"

A smug grin appeared on Zann's face. The sword in his hand magically disappeared, both of his hands in his pockets as he stared at Leonel, giving him a reply that silenced him.

"You think I've been doing nothing during my disappearance? Don't you underestimate me, Leonel--I defeated a Behemoth alone."

When they heard this, Elenea and Leonel's eyes widened in astonishment. Aranea seemed utterly lost as she cocked her head to the side.

"Behemoth? What is a Behemoth? But the beast, it sounds large, no?"

"Oh, it's large, alright," Elenea commented, Aranea furrowing her brows in wonder.

"Is it dangerous?"

Elenea widened her eyes as she nodded energetically, answering her question.

"Behemoths are powerful and dangerous enemies that use a simple physical attack and a special attack called Heave, a stronger physical attack. They also use great thunder magic!"

Aranea's mouth was agape. He looked at Zann, and when the Fire Familiar saw the amazement on her face, he felt fulfilled, but at the same time, somewhat embarrassed because of the attention he was getting.

"You defeated a beast like that alone!?"

Zann nodded, furrowing his brows as he didn't know how to interact with people this much.

"Yeah. It was my ordeal last year," Zann flatly replied, Leonel's hands at his sides balling into tight fists.

'The best way to defeat a Behemoth is through speed,' the Water Familiar thought, gritting his teeth as he found it impossible for Zann to defeat such a heavenly beast-like creature. 'How was it possible to improve himself in such a short amount of time?'

Sensing the silence from Leonel, Zann arched a brow at him, his words taunting him.

"What's wrong, Leonel? Are you scared that you're not up to par with my powers?"

"Wha--"

Hearing this, the Water Familiar was suddenly flustered. He glared at Zann, the Fire Familiar's lips curling into a smug grin that showed triumph.

"I told you... I'm not like the young Zann before," he reminded, turning his back not to face them. "But I have to admit, beating a Catoblepas is something I can't do alone. I need your help."

What Zann said made Leonel widen his eyes in surprise. As Zann continued to walk ahead, the twins followed him, Leonel still rooted in place as he blinked his eyes a few times, not believing what he heard.

'Did he just... acknowledge that he can't do things alone?'

Leonel cocked his head to the side as he then continued walking, following them.

'He never does that when we were young. Did he mature over time as well? How much did that guy change?'